Toy dolphin

ABSTRACT

A toy dolphin provided with a buoyant body for floating in water, a motor and a source of energy for same located within the body, a flipper operatively mounted for movement at the rearward end of the body, a buoyant member operatively mounted to the forward end of the body of the dolphin for rotation between a first position wherein the buoyant member is generally aligned with the buoyant body of the dolphin and a second position wherein the buoyant member is spaced downwardly from the dolphin body, a sound producing mechanism within the body, a gear train connecting the motor and the propelling means for running same continuously, a gear train operatively connecting the motor, the buoyant member and the sound producing mechanism for operating same intermittently during the continuous operation of the flipper such that as the buoyant member rotates to its second position, the forward end of the buoyant body of the dolphin is raised upwardly from the water while the rearward end thereof is further submerged at which time the sound producing mechanism operates.

United States Patent [191 Suzuki [451 May 7, 1974 TOY DOLPHIN [57] ABSTRACT [75] Inventor: flaruo Suzuki, Chiba, Japan A toy dolphin provided with a buoyant body for floating in water, a motor and a source of energy for same [73] Asslgnee' Toytown Corporatmn Tokyo Japan located within the body, a flipper operatively mounted [22] Filed: June 26, 1973 for movement at the rearward end of the body, a

[52] US. Cl. 46/91, 46/247 [51] Int. Cl A63h 23/00 [58] Field of Search 9/1; 46/91, 92, 247

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,828,034 10/1931 Einfalt 46/92 3,601,922 8/1971 Shaffer 46/92 3,132,864 5/1964 Glass et al. 46/247 3,729,863 5/1973 Asano 46/92 3,163,960 1/1965 lwaya et al 46/247 Primary Examiner-Albert J. Makay Assistant Examiner-Donald W. Underwood Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Staas, Halsey & Gable buoyant member operatively mounted to the forward end of the body of the dolphin for rotation between a first position wherein the buoyant member is generally aligned with the buoyant body of the dolphin and a second position wherein the buoyant member is spaced downwardly from the dolphin body, a sound producing mechanism within the body, a gear train connecting the motor and the propelling means for running same continuously, a gear train operatively connecting the motor, the buoyant member and the sound producing mechanism for operating same intermittently during the continuous operation of the flipper such that as the buoyant member rotates to its second position, the forward end of the buoyant body of the dolphin is raised upwardly from the water while the rearward end thereof is further submerged at which time the sound producing mechanism operates.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures PATENTEB MY 7 SHEET 1 BF 2 SHEET 2 BF 2 PATENTEDIAY 1 m4 mwt TOY DOLPHIN BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to the class of toys simulating the action of a sea-going animal and which are frequently played with by the child during bathing. More specifically, a toy dolphin is disclosed herein featuring a buoyant body within which is mounted a miniature electric motor and batteries for energizing same. At the rearward end of the buoyant body, a flipper is mounted for side to side movement so as to propel the toy dolphin through the water. A buoyant member configured as a ball is mounted to the forward end of the dolphin for rotation therewith. Means are provided within the dolphin for rotating the buoyant ball downwardly which has the effect of raising the forward end of the dolphin while lowering the rearward end thereof during which time an audible sound is pro duced. To the eyes and ears of the child, it thus appears that the dolphin periodically during swimming raises its head and utters a squealing noise. The foregoing interaction between the flipper, buoyant ball and noise producing mechanism is achieved with a gear train operatively connecting the aforementioned elements of the toy dolphin with the miniature electric motor.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the toy dolphin;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the toy dolphin illustrating the continuous movement of the rear flipper for propelling the dolphin and the buoyant ball in its normal position of alignment with the body of the dolphin;

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the toy dolphin illustrating rotation of the buoyant ball at which time the head of the dolphin moves upwardly while the rearward end thereof moves downwardly, this action accompanied by the production of a sound simulating the squeal of the dolphin;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the toy dolphin with its upper casing thereof removed so as to expose the operating mechanism;

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view of the toy dolphin with the top casing thereof removed and 'portions of the bottom casing removed so as to expose the working mechanism;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line 6--6 of FIG. 5 illustrating the oscillating plate for operating the rear flipper of the dolphin for propelling same; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line 77 of FIG. 4 illustrating the rod for transmitting the rectilinear movement of the ram of the operating mechanism to the rotating movement of the arm to which the buoyant ball is mounted.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The toy dolphin designated generally by the reference numeral 10 in FIG. 1 consists of a lower section 12 to which the operating mechanism is mounted and an upper section 13 suitably mounted to the lower section 12, for example, by screws. It is significant to note that the upper section 13 is provided with a piece of styrofoam conforming to the contour of the working iature electric motor 16 of conventional design is mounted to the chassis l4 and suitably connected by wires 18 and conductors 20 to batteries 22 located within the bottom of the section 12. Suitable openings may be provided within the bottom of the section 12 providing entrance to the compartment within which the batteries 22 are located. Finally, an electrical switch 24 of conventional design is suitably mounted for rotation such that as its electrical conductor 26 engages the prong 28 of the electrical conductor 20 the circuit is completed permitting the batteries 22 to energize the motor 16.

As the miniature electric motor 16 is energized, the pinion wheel 30 formed at the end of the shaft thereof rotates. As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the pinion wheel 30 engages the drives the gear wheel 32 which is mounted on the shaft 34 which is appropriately journalled within the chassis 14. The gear wheel 36 mounted in the middle of the shaft 34 thus rotates meshing with the teeth of the gear wheel 38 which is mounted for rotation with the shaft 40 which is also journalled within the chassis 14. Also mounted to the shaft 40 at the bottom thereof is an offset cam 42, as illustrated in FIG. 6.

The offset cam 42 is positioned between the jaws 44 of the forward end of a plate 46, as illustrated in FIG. 6. The plate 46 is provided with openings 48, 50 and 52 through which shafts 54, 56 and the leg 58 forming a part of the chassis 14 pass. It is apparent that the plate 46 is free to rotate about the shaft 56 such that as the offset portion of the cam 42 sequentially strikes the opposing jaws 44 the rear end of the plate 46 is caused to move from side to side.

As illustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5, the rear end of the .plate 46 is provided with a slot 60 within which an upstanding rod 62 forming a part of the propelling means or tail 64'is held. As is apparent from FIG. 4, the tail 64 is mounted for rotation about a shaft'66 extending upwardly from the bottom of the lower-section 12 of the dolphin. Thus, as the motor 16 is energized and the forward end of the plate 46 caused to move from side to side by the rotating offset cam 42, the rearward end of the plate 46 similarly moves from side to side thus causing the tail 64 to rapidly move from side to side propelling the toy dolphin 10. The rear end of the lower section 12 is provided with a slot 68 which confines the motion of the tail 64 slightly to the right side of the section 12 such that the toy dolphin 10 is propelled in a clockwise'circle. 7

Immediately below the gear wheel 38, and attached thereto is a smaller gear wheel 70, as illustrated in FIG. 5, having teeth which mesh with a larger gear wheel 72 mounted for rotation about the shaft 54. Below the gear wheel 72 and connected thereto is a smaller gear wheel 74 having teeth which mesh with a larger gear wheel 76 fixedly secured to the shaft 56. Below the gear wheel 76 and attached thereto is a smaller gear wheel 78 having teeth which mesh with a larger gear wheel 80 which is fixedly secured to the shaft 54 causing same to turn. It is again noted that the gear wheels 72 and 74 are mounted loosely about the shaft 54 while the gear wheel 80 is rigidly secured to the shaft 54 causing same to turn.

Mounted to the top of the shaft 54 is a wheel 82 having a cut out segment 84, illustrated in FIG. 4, and also provided with an outstanding arm 86, the purpose of which will be described in detail hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the reference numeral 88 designates a frame appropriately mounted for sliding movement with respect to the chassis 14. The frame 88 includes a slot 90 within which the shaft 54 passes. The frame 88 is further provided with a ram 92 extending forwardly along the side of the chassis l4 and terminating forwardly in an opening through which a bar 94 passes, as illustrated in FIG. 7. As further seen in FIG. 4, the frame 88 is provided with an abutment 96 to which one end of the coil spring 98 is attached. The other end of the coil spring 98 is attached to a similar abutment 100 formed as an integral part of the chassis 14. The purpose of the spring 98 is to normally urge the frame 88 to its rearwardmost position, as illustrated in FIG. 4.

Fixedly secured to the rod 94 is an arm 97 to which a buoyant ball 99 is mounted forwardly of the nose of the dolphin 10, as illustrated in FIG. I, for example.

As will now be apparent, as the motor 16 is energized and the tail 64 continues to move from side to side so as to propel the toy dolphin, the gear wheel 80, shaft 54 and wheel 82 rotate slowly in a counterclockwise direction until the leg 86 thereof engages the abutment 100 which extends upwardly from the frame 88, as illustrated in FIG. 4. The continued counterclockwise rotation of the plate 82 causes the abutment 86 of the rotating wheel 82 to push against the abutment 100 of the frame 88 gradually forcing the frame 88 forwardly against the force of the spring 98. The forward movement of the frame 88 is accompanied by the forward movement of its ram 92 eventually causing the arm 94 to be rotated counterclockwise, as illustrated in FIG. 5, in turn rotating the arm 97 counterclockwise which results in the buoyant ball 99 being lowered relative to the lower section 12 of the dolphin, as illustrated in FIG. 3. Since the ball 99 is buoyant, and therefore cannot be immersed below the level of the water, the result of the ball 99 tending to move downwardly is that the forward end or nose 102 of the dolphin is raised from the water while the rear endthereof including the tail 64 is forced downwardly. To the child, it appears as if the dolphin is raising its head out of water. It will be immediately apparent that as soon as the abutment 86 of the wheel 82 disengages from the abutment 100 of the frame 88 upon continued counterclockwise rotation, the frame 88 moves backwardly into the position illustrated in FIG. 4 under the influence of the spring 98, at which time the buoyant ball 99 is returned to its upward position, as illustrated in FIG. 2.

As further illustrated in FIG. 4, the reference numeral 104 designates a resilient leaf spring fixedly secured at one end to the chassis 14 and terminating at its opposite end in a prong 106 normally held by the forward end 108 of the lever l which is mounted for rotation about a rod 112 secured to the chassis 14. The reference numeral 114 designates an abutment extending outwardly from the lever 110 and which normally rests in engagement against the outer surface of the wheel 82. In the position illustrated in FIG. 4, the leaf spring 104 is held out of engagement with the rotating pinion wheel 30 of the shaft of the motor 16. However,

as the wheel 82 slowly rotates in a counterclockwise direction, the abutment I14 eventually passes into the cut out segment 84 contained in the outer periphery of the wheel 82 at which time the leaf spring 104 is permitted to move into engagement with the teeth of the rotating pinion wheel 30.

As is further apparent from FIG. 4, the shaft 40 terminates upwardly in a wheel 116 provided with outwardly extending projections 118. Thus, as the leaf spring 104 moves into engagement against the teeth of the rotating pinion wheel 30 the projections 118 of the rapidly turning wheel 116 sequentially hit the arm I10 forcing same outwardly at which time for a split second the leaf spring 104, is moved out of engagement with the teeth of the rotating pinion wheel 30. The result is that during those split seconds when the leaf spring 104 engages the teeth of the pinion wheel 30, the metal-tometal contact causes a squealing sound interrupted each time the projections 118 push the lever outwardly so as to remove the metal-to-metal contact. As will now be apparent, when the nose or forward end 102 of the toy dolphin moves upwardly out of the water the metal-to-metal contact, previously described, causes a squealing sound simulating the call of a dolphin to the amusement of the child.

Thus, the toy dolphin of the present invention is de signed to continuously move through the water in a circle during which time the buoyant ball 98 is positioned directly in front of the nose of the dolphin, as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2. To the amusement of the child, the dolphins head then rears upwardly from the water by the previously described action of the buoyant ball 98 rotating downwardly at which time the metal-to-metal contact between the leaf spring 104 and the teeth of the pinion wheel 30 cause a squealing noise simulating the call of a dolphin.

I claim:

1. A toy, comprising:

a buoyant body for floating in water;

a motor and source of energy for running same within said body,

propelling means operatively mounted for rotation at the rearward end of said body for moving said toy through the water;

a buoyant member operatively mounted to the forward end of said body for rotation between a first position wherein said member is generally aligned with said body and a second position spaced downwardly from said body;

means within said body producing an audible sound;

means operatively connecting said motor and said propelling means for running said propelling means continuously, and i means operatively connecting said motor and said buoyant member and said means for producing said sound for operating said buoyant member and said means for producing said sound intermittently during the continuous operation of said propelling means for rotating said buoyant member to said second position thus causing the forward end of said buoyant body to be raised out of the water while actuating said means for producing said sound. 2. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said propelling means includes a rigid flipper, a plate operatively connected to said flipper, said plate mounted within said body for oscillation and said means operatively connecting said motor and said propelling means includes a gear train provided with an offset cam, said cam arranged to sequentially contact and oscillate said plate.

3. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said means connecting said motor and said buoyant member includes a gear train provided with a gear having an abutment, a frame mounted for rectilinear motion within said body, said frame being provided with an abutment against which said abutment of said wheel engages, and means operatively connecting said frame and said buoyant member translating the rectilinear motion of said frame to rotation of said buoyant member.

buoyant member is configured as a ball. 

1. A toy, comprising: a buoyant body for floating in water; a motor and source of energy for running same within said body, propelling means operatively mounted for rotation at the rearward end of said body for moving said toy through the water; a buoyant member operatively mounted to the forward end of said body for rotation between a first position wherein said member is generally aligned with said body and a second position spaced downwardly from said body; means within said body producing an audible sound; means operatively connecting said motor and said propelling means for running said propelling means continuously, and means operatively connecting said motor and said buoyant member and said means for producing said sound for operating said buoyant member and said means for producing said sound intermittently during the continuous operation of said propelling means for rotating said buoyant member to said second position thus causing the forward end of said buoyant body to be raised out of the water while actuating said means for producing said sound.
 2. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said propelling means includes a rigid flipper, a plate operatively connected to said flipper, said plate mounted within said body for oscillation and said means operatively connecting said motor and said propelling means includes a gear train provided with an offset cam, said cam arranged to sequentially contact and oscillate said plate.
 3. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said means connecting said motor and said buoyant member includes a gear train provided with a gear having an abutment, a frame mounted for rectilinear motion within said body, said frame being provided with an abutment against which said abutment of said wheel engages, and means operatively connecting said frame and said buoyant member translating the rectilinear motion of said frame to rotation of said buoyant member.
 4. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said means within said body producing an audible sound comprises a leaf spring and said means operatively connecting said motor and said means for producing said sound comprises a gear train provided with a wheel and means sequentially urging said leaf spring into engagement against the teeth of said wheel for producing a screeching noise.
 5. A toy as in claim 1, wherein said buoyant body is configured as a dolphin, said forward end of said body including the head of said dolphin, and wherein said buoyant member is configured as a ball. 